Economic Development Commission

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (EDC) TOWN OF MOUNT AIRY Minutes of 09/24/2014 Meeting Attendees: Andrew Williamson - Chairman Frank Dertzbaugh James Linton Harry Snodgrass Zach Peters Bob King, Council Liaison Bill McCullough Absent: Michael VanSant Also attending were Dick Swanson, MAMSA; Melissa Hoyle, Town Staff, J.A. Burke, Mount Airy Messenger and Wiley Hayes, Carroll County Times. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. 2. Minutes for the EDC meeting of 20 August 2014 were reviewed and approved with correction to name in paragraph 10. 3. New Commission member Zach Peters introduced himself to the EDC and was welcomed as a new member of the EDC. 4. Dick Swanson recapped for EDC members’ activities of Mount Airy Main Street Association (MAMSA) supporting downtown activities in Mount Airy. He cited a problem of attracting volunteers that has made supporting activities by MAMSA difficult. Ongoing programs being worked by MAMSA and the town include expectation of a Legacy grant of $60,000 help with façade restorations of downtown main street shops, participation on designing panels for downtown billboard and directory and placement of historic plaques in the downtown area. Dick Swanson stressed the town needs a designated Main Street Manager who could liaison with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and with local businesses downtown. This role is being discussed within the town, but no firm plan has been developed. Bob King asked what is the role of EDC with MAMSA. No firm role was discussed, but it was suggested by the Chairman that the question and activities such as reviewing ordinances for restrictions be placed on the next agenda of the EDC for discussion. The subject of the Farmers Market and the role the EDC could take in the Market for next year (2015) will be placed on the EDC agenda for January. 5. Melissa Hoyle provided an Economic Development Staff report for September 2014 providing a summary of upcoming events for the period September – early December 1 2014 within Mount Airy. Her report also provided a recap of the portion of the town budget for FY 2015 identified for economic development activities. Discussion on updating the Shop Mt. Airy App included Harry Snodgrass looking into possible APP companies who could help with the Mt. Airy APP. The question still remaining is when input comes in for the APP, who will manage it. During this meeting there was general agreement that the current Mt. Airy web site lacks content for smart phones and will require a responsive web site that can adjust to the user. The desire is to make the web site easy to read, easy to follow. There is a tasking to find out more about a mobile web site. Melissa also reported she is working on a town newsletter that will be sent out the end of October addressing town activities of the various commissions incorporating 75- 200 words per commission. Approval by the Commission was given to spend $100 for rack cards advertising Christmas activities in Mount Airy. 6. A tentative date of 10 December 2014 has been set for the EDC/Chamber of Commerce Business Card Exchange to be held at Town Hall. 7. A continuing discussion concerning making Wi-Fi available for all in Mount Airy. At the present time there is not enough information regarding this activity and it will continue to be an agenda item for future meetings. 8. Business Ideas/Incentives were discussed tonight. Examples of a town supporting a Community Shop (Luray, Va.) through providing leased space for displaying arts/crafts for sale helps to create community involvement, and an activity (Jury Craft) in Waterford, Va. featuring arts are types of activities helps to draw attention for the town and could do the same for Mount Airy. Another incentive to help development could be to prorate water hook-up rather than an up front cost for a total project when considering proposed development. 9. Documents concerning parking in Mount Airy and Center Street development were provided commission members and will be discussed at the next EDC meeting. 10. Two new agenda items were discussed. One is that a Carroll County Broadband Symposium will be held on 8 October 2014 and commission members interested are encouraged to attend. The second item is for Commission members plan on discussing expediting the building processes within Mount Airy, using as an example current direction to put an elevator into a building at 1507 South Main St. 11. The following action items came out of the EDC meeting: An agenda item will be added for EDC role in MAMSA and reviewing restrictive ordinances and other impediments for the Oct 22, 2014 meeting EDC members will discuss Mt. Airy Parking and Center Street development at the October meeting 2  Reporting on APP possible APP contractors and upgrading of town web site for mobile use will be discussed Discussion regarding expediting development will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting 12. The next EDC meeting is scheduled for 22 October 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. 13. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Minutes reviewed and approved with insertion of last name in paragraph 5 on 22 October 2014 3